He Bombay Indians experienced a characteristic recovery season in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025finally qualifying for Qualifier 2 after a mixed start. They finished the league stage in fourth place with 8 wins and 6 losses in 14 matches, demonstrating their ability to find momentum when it mattered most.
The team’s strength was its explosive batting unit, highlighted by Suryakumar Yadav winning the Most Valuable Player (MVP) prize with 717 runs, and Hardik Pandya contributing 224 runs and 14 wickets. Their bowling attack, led by the experienced Trent Boult (22 wickets) and the ever reliable Jasprit Bumrah (183 career wickets for MI), ensured regular breakthroughs, particularly in the powerplay. Although their fight for the title ended in Qualifier 2 against Kings of PunjabMI demonstrated its competitive spirit and the strength of its core, setting the stage for a minor recalibration rather than a complete rebuild ahead of the 2026 auction.
Three foreign players Mumbai Indians (MI) can retain ahead of IPL 2026 auction
1. Trent Boult (bowler)
Trent Boult He is an irreplaceable world-class asset who provides Mumbai Indians with the crucial ability to attack early in the power play. MI signed/acquired him for a huge price (INR 12.5 crore) ahead of IPL 2025, which shows the immense value they place on his new ball prowess. His performance in IPL 2025 was stellar, finishing as MI’s leading wicket-taker with 22 wickets in 16 matches, including a crucial four-wicket haul. Boult’s partnership with Jasprit Bumrah creates a nightmare opening spell for opposing batsmen, making his ability to swing the ball and take early wickets an essential part of MI’s bowling dominance.
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2. Mitchell Santner (spin bowling all-rounder)
Mitchell Santner He is a strategic retention for MI due to his dual value as an economical spinner and useful lower order batsman, offering significant balance to the team. Santner was signed by MI for INR 2.0 crore for IPL 2025. He produced an exceptional spell against Delhi Capitals, where he took three wickets for just 11 runs, showing his potential in the spin bowlers. He played 13 matches in IPL 2025, displaying intelligent bowling in the mid overs, maintaining an impressive economy rate and providing useful depth to the batting line-up. Its flexibility and ability to contribute in multiple phases make it a highly useful and profitable all-rounder abroad.
3. Will Jacks (batting all-rounder)
jacks is a highly rated all-rounder overseas that provides explosive batting power in the top or middle order, along with a handy off-spin bowling option. MI spent INR 5.25 crore to acquire him in the IPL 2025 auction. Jacks contributed 233 runs in 13 matches at a solid strike rate and picked up six wickets, adding tactical flexibility to the playing XI. While he is not a top-class player in every game, his high ceiling as an aggressive batsman and reliable spinner is exactly the type of player MI retains to maintain a deep bench of overseas all-rounders who can step up when required.
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